Welcome sunshine!
We had been drenched by inclement and merciless weather from the moment we
had arrived in Southern British Columbia. Soaked to the bone with our clothes on
strike, we had turned into human rain gauges. There was certainly no danger of
us becoming dehydrated! What a relief on Monday evening when the sun finally
came out! It seemed the rain had finally exhausted its resources, and the
resulting sunshine was more than welcome.
We immediately rallied ourselves and headed out to the Victoria harbour to take
pictures. We couldn't believe our eyes! Everything we saw looked thousands of
times better than they had the previous evening. All of our former pictures of
the beautiful parliament buildings and hotels were dulled by the blurry grey of
the heavy downpour, and they were far from appealing, to say the least! Unless
you're from a parched, dry, hot desert, that is!
As I repeatedly depressed the button on my digital camera, I couldn't help but
smile. It's amazing what a little bit of sunshine can do! What was also amazing
was that we were finding it even hard to remember the previous five days of
shivering through the unwanted downpour. Forgotten were the memories of huddling
in our car or in provided shelters to protect us from the harsh elements! All we
could now see and contemplate was the beautiful sunshine.
We spent the next two hours soaking it in, for you never know what tomorrow
might bring!
We often face lugubrious and disastrously dull, grey days in life, days when
everything we touch seems to go sour. We start hyperventilating, gasping for
air, but somehow we are left wanting. No matter where we turn, a storm is raging
with no end in sight. The harder we fight with our circumstances, the bigger
they seem to grow. Resistance seems futile. Assimilation seems inevitable. Where
will our help come from?
In despair we start to read the Psalms, and we notice that King David faced many
similar situations! Hear his plea:
"GOD! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, Mobs of
them all around me, roaring their mockery: "Hah! No help for him from God!" (Ps
3:1-2 The Message)
Unlike us though, King David knew where his help would be coming from:
"But you, GOD, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head
high; With all my might I shout up to GOD, His answers thunder from the holy
mountain. I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I'm up again - rested, tall and
steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs Coming at me from all sides." (Ps 3:3-6
The Message)
We can be assured that our help will come from God! He is faithful. Trust in Him
and watch for the strength and encouragements He will bestow on you. He is like
the sunshine that appears after days of greyish dull downpours. He is our
sunshine, lighting the way to pure freedom!
"All sunshine and sovereign is GOD, generous in gifts and glory." (Ps 84:11 The
Message)
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV)
P. S. By any chance do you have an umbrella that I could borrow?
P. S.S. Is it any wonder that my family wants to go to Arizona next year?
Hopefully it won't be during monsoon season!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.